The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) reports that: "focusing on constitutional law, it is representing 79 Members of Congress in submitting amicus briefs in 12 separate lawsuits brought by more than 40 Catholic organizations challenging a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate that violates the religious beliefs of the organizations.

The Catholic organizations, including the Archdiocese of New York, the University of Notre Dame, and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, are challenging the HHS mandate. The mandate requires employers to cover sterilization, prescription contraceptives, abortion-inducing drugs, and related patient education and counseling services in their health insurance plans regardless of the employers' religious opposition to such activities and services.

'It is essential to defeat the HHS mandate,' said Edward White, Senior Counsel of the ACLJ. 'The mandate devastates the religious freedom of all employers seeking to comply with their religious beliefs. This is not just an issue negatively impacting Catholics. This is an issue negatively impacting employers of all faiths.'

The ACLJ and the Members of Congress explain in their 'friend of the court' briefs that the mandate runs counter to America's long and proud tradition of accommodating the religious beliefs and practices of all its citizens. The briefs contend that the mandate imposes an unconstitutional burden on individuals and organizations, who firmly oppose having to subsidize, provide, and/or facilitate activities and services that are contrary to their religious beliefs."

For more information on the Washington D.C.-based ACLJ, go to www.aclj.org.